Bhushi Dam

The Bhushi Dam is a masonry dam on the Indrayani River in Lonavala, Maharashtra, India.[2] In 2014, the Indian Railways announced plans to develop Bhushi Dam as a tourist resort with participation from the private sector.[3]

Bhushi reservoir

Bhushi Dam
Tourists gather around the dam.
Location of Bhushi Dam in Maharashtra
LocationLonavala, Maharashtra, India
Coordinates18°43′21.86″N 73°23′47.26″E
Opening date1860s[1]
Owner(s)Central Railway
Dam and spillways
ImpoundsIndrayani River

History

The dam was built in the late 1860s for the Great Indian Peninsular Railway as a source of water for their steam engines.[1] As of 2014 it is owned by the Central Railway zone of the Indian Railways, the successor to the Great Indian Peninsular Railway.[1]

Water was carried from the reservoir to Lonavala, Khandala and the reversing station of the railways by cast-iron pipes. The Railway company later agreed to supply some water to the town of Lonavala as well, because the dam had been built using Municipal funding.[2]

In 2011, the Indian Navy proposed to take over the Bhushi dam and Bhugaon lake for its training activities at the Indian Naval Station Shivaji which is located in the vicinity. The Lonavala Police stated that such a move would restrict the access of the public to the dam.[4]

In 2012, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) proposed to construct a 9 kilometres (5.6 miles) long tunnel along the Mumbai Pune Expressway which would pass right below the Bhushi dam.[5]

Accidents

The Bhushi Dam frequently sees cases of drowning. A 2012 report stated that as many as 25 people had died in a five-year period.[6]

In order to bring down these accidents, the Lonavala Police and the railways set up a control room near the dam, as well as imposed a ban on consumption of liquor in areas surrounding the dam.[7] Subsequently, vehicles were banned from entering the area after 3 pm and visitors were prohibited from entering the dam and the surrounding areas after 5 pm.[8]

Tourists are usually allowed to visit the dam from 9 am up to 3 pm. Except local buses, all other buses are banned from entering the area.[9]

References
  1. "Rain spreads cheer in Pune and Pimpri, tourists throng Bhushi dam". The Indian Express. 17 July 2014. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  2. "Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency - Poona - Chapter VI - Trade - Communication - Railway". Bombay: Gazetteer Department, Government of Maharashtra. 1885. Archived from the original on 28 January 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  3. Umbrajkar, Manish (17 July 2014). "Bhushi dam area may get a holiday resort". The Times of India. Pune. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  4. Urunkar, Salil (20 July 2011). "Navy's plan will ruin your Bhushi dam party". Mid Day. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  5. Tembhekar, Chitaranjan (25 February 2012). "Straighter new route to cut travel time by half an hour". The Times of India. Mumbai. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  6. "Bhushi dam: 25 deaths in 5 years". The Indian Express. Lonavala. 28 August 2012. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  7. Deshmukh, Chaitraly (19 June 2014). "A must read for those planning to visit Lonavla". Daily News and Analysis. Pune. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  8. "No revellers at Bhushi dam site after 5pm: Cops". The Times of India. Pune. 14 August 2014. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  9. "Ban on vehicles going towards Bhushi dam". The Times of India. Pune. Times News Network. 22 July 2010. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
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